NZ U20 boosted by Super 14 threesome

11 April 2008 15:00pm

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(Main & Thumb) Barring two players the New Zealand U20 line-up for Wales 2008 is virtually complete including three Super 14 players as the junior All Blacks look to continue where their U19 counterparts left off last season

Three Super 14 players have been included in the New Zealand U20 side set to compete at the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship this June.

Wing Sean Maitland, loose forward Nasi Manu and wing Kade Poki are all current Crusaders players and were also members of the 2007 New Zealand U19 team which won the IRB U19 World Championship. Several other members of last year's U19 World Champion team have been selected for the New Zealand U20 side and co-coach Russell Hilton-Jones said the selection process had been thorough.

"Since we first identified a wider squad for trials in December and again this month, a group of respected former rugby players and other specialist resource coaches have done extensive work on analysing each player's ability and skill," he said. "We have a group of talented young individuals who have done a tremendous job in getting themselves in contention for national selection.

"This group of players have shown maturity in understanding the requirements of a professional player. They all have a great work ethic and that has paid off for them."

The squad of 26 will assemble at the Millennium Institute on Auckland's North Shore from 3rd-6th May 2008 and at the same venue again for six days from 26th May. The squad departs Auckland for Wales on Saturday 31st May on Air New Zealand flight NZ39 at 11.30pm.

WRU International Skills Coach Jason Strange is a busy man, combining the new role with that of Wales Under 20 attack coach, Ebbw Vale head coach and continuing to teach at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community.

Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton look ahead to this week's crunch RBS 6 Nations tie against France, where the Wales skipper in particular is keen to make his mark, as Paris has proved a bleak place for him in the past.

Following their historic win over England, Wales Under 20 suffered a narrow, 36-34 loss to their Scottish counterparts last weekend, despite outscoring them by five tries to three. Watch the match highlights and reaction.

WRU TV go behind the scenes with the Wales squad as they put the final touches in place ahead of the clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. Follow the squad on their captain's run, the kickers visit to Murrayfield and Neil Jenkins' press conference